Scuba Haven

SCUBA Haven has been a fixture of the local diving community since the 1990s, serving the waters around Port Macquarie and the Camden Haven districts. What began in Laurieton has evolved into a well-established operation based in Port Macquarie, focusing on the unique marine topography of the New South Wales coast.

The area is characterised by a mix of rocky ridges, gutters, and submerged bommies that provide varied environments for both recreational and technical exploration. Whether you are looking for a relaxed dive among soft corals or a more advanced outing on the deeper reef structures, the local sites offer significant variety.

The team is built on decades of local knowledge, with Peter Huettner having been instructing in the Port Macquarie and Camden Haven areas since the 1980s. This long-term familiarity with the local currents and seasonal changes is a significant asset for any diver planning a trip.

Joining the instructional team is Jason Gill, who has been with the centre since 2010, alongside Jason Sawyer, an instructor with 25 years of experience. This depth of expertise ensures that training and guided dives are handled by professionals who know these specific waters intimately.

Beyond recreational diving, the centre also maintains a professional commercial diving division. They provide specialised services including hull cleaning, in-water repairs, mooring inspections, and underwater photography.

As an SSI affiliated centre, SCUBA Haven offers a complete progression of training. This includes the Open Water Diver and Advanced Open Water Diver courses for those starting their journey, as well as a full range of Professional Courses for those looking to move into a career in diving.

In addition to recreational certifications, the centre also provides First Aid courses, which are essential for any diver's safety profile.

The centre operates the Orca, a 7.5m vessel powered by twin 140hp motors. This setup provides reliable transit to the local dive sites, with a capacity to carry up to 11 divers per trip.

The centre is equipped with oxygen safety facilities on-site to ensure standard safety protocols are met during diving activities.

The local reefs are home to a diverse range of marine life, including various species of soft corals, hard corals, and sponges. You will frequently encounter wobbegongs and a variety of fish species moving through the rock ridges and gutters.

For those interested in pelagic encounters, The Wall provides regular opportunities to see larger fish species passing through the area. The kelp patches near Bait Reef also host a steady variety of fish life.

Macro enthusiasts will find plenty to explore, particularly around the bommies and reef flats. The area is well-known for its abundance of nudibranchs and other small, colourful organisms that inhabit the sponges and corals.

The dive sites in this region vary from shallow reef flats to deeper ridges and walls. Divers should be aware of the potential for surge when performing fly-overs at sites like Bird Rock.